✮ video.

[uprightness]

Who: Steve Rogers + you.
Broadcast: yep.
Action: on the starstruck, if you're inclined!
When: current.

[ It has been a long time since Steve Rogers has done one of these little network announcements, seven months, if you want to be specific about it. Some things have changed, others haven't. He still looks awkward about addressing a whole lot of people at once for something that isn't an emergency. The uniform is gone, however, replaced by a simple blue t-shirt and jeans and the shield is nowhere in sight.

He seems to have spread many sheets of paper all over the Starstruck's kitchen. Some feature tables of dates - undoubtedly a calendar in the making and others feature, well, drawings; each sheet contains one scenery. They would strike some people as rather familiar, a hand-holding tree, a sandy beach, the market of the tri-fraction system with people wearing clothes in various colors, the woods of the Lagan system, the Nebula lights and lastly, the mountains of Siourew and the Co’kal. ]

I meant to finish a few calendars by New Year's Eve but it seems I'm behind on my deadline.

[ To say the very least. He rubs his chin, there's a beginning of a stubble there. How many days has he devoted to this as of late? it's hard to tell. ]

I'm not going to write years on 'em, since it's different for all of us but I thought it might be a nice way to keep up with dates and holidays.

[ He frowns and confesses, ]

I feel like I've left some things out - and some of you have seen planets I haven't been around to see for myself. I figured I'd ask - if you have the time, you can describe some of them to me and I'll add them to the calendar. It can be anything you liked on any of the planets we've been to.

[ and, okay, fine - ]

I could use a description of where we're currently docked, too.

[ How can a person so big can seem so awkward? ]

Thanks you.

Comments

[uprightness]

I have a feeling stable ground and some fresh air will do the job.

[ they are sorely missed, here. ]

At least he knows we have him under control.

[ that's more than he can say about bucky. if he never sees him lose control again it would be too soon. especially since it'll be that much harder to bring him down. ]

[mucked]

I rather doubt he believes it. Strange as it may sound, when I did have the opportunity to chat with him? He implied you were too easy on him. He asked that next time you smash his face into the wall.

[ -- peggy frowns ]

[uprightness]

He can ask me personally and the answer would still be the same.

[ that is, a definite no. ]

It got the job done.

[mucked]

Mmhm. That's what I told him -- but it'll take a while for anything else to sink in. All he feels like right now is a liability. We'll have to watch him once we leave the planet; he may try and bolt again.

[uprightness]

Don't worry. If it comes down to it, we'll bring him back. I'm just glad Bucky is staying put. Couldn't chase both of them at once.

[ he makes the mistake of trying to sit and immediately jumps up to his feet, frowning ]

they've filled the damn thing with water.

[ this is horrible. ]

[mucked]

[ she's about to say something about barnes -- comment, perhaps, on the similarity between the two. but then he nears the bed and she can't help but step back and witness what's about to happen.

her smile is long-suffering. ]

Bit of a let down, isn't it?

[uprightness]

They gotta be kiddin', they're really sleeping on these?

[ see, he was right. there's nothing appealing about this planet whatsoever. ]

[mucked]

The locals? [ her brows raise. ] I suspect they sleep in some other fashion. But this must be their way of reminding us you can't ever really escape the water.

[ peggy watches him bobble a bit on the bed. ] It's not that bad.

[uprightness]

And I thought the mattresses back home were weird.

[ this is uncanny, it's what it is. it's not even soft, simply - unstable. ]

I mean, if you toss and turn at night, you can end up at the other side of the room.

[mucked]

Someone else, maybe. Hardly you -- I know what it's like trying to shift you out of bed. You're a bloody boulder.

[uprightness]

Maybe your heart simply ain't in it.

[ his smile is easy and all too pleased. He's rather fond of this theory. ]

[mucked]

I confess I'd hate to hurt you. [ -- wry as you like. as if she could ever elbow him hard enough to leave a bruise, let alone push him out of bed. ]

[uprightness]

I do appreciate it.

[ and oddly enough, there isn't a pinch of sarcasm in how he says it. apparently, he is rather convinced that she can catch him unprepared long enough to elbow her way out. ]

You're being very kind.

[ alright, maybe now there is a smile that he's biting back. ]

[mucked]

Kinder than you deserve after that stunt over the comms. [ -- she means, of course, his threat over the safety of her tea. her tea. ]

[uprightness]

What stunt?

[ innocently. ]

I was just following your requests.

[mucked]

To the misapplied letter, it seems. [ but she hooks an arm around his waist and pulls herself into a comfortable hug. peggy's not a 'hugger' by any stretch. but it's different with steve -- she's long since learned to appreciate every opportunity to tuck her cheek against his chest and listen to his heartbeat. she doesn't much mind, either, that he's still a little damp from the swim. ]

[uprightness]

Have I?

[ this line of banter fades for a moment, however. she steps into his arms and steve moves to accept her at once. it's a fluid motion, his arms wrap around her, steady and firm. whatever tension that this world instilled in him seems to evaporate in that moment. ]

Guess I'll have to do better next time. A good thing we have a few of those tea bags left.

[mucked]

I must admit -- [ her syllables are as stiff as ever, although she's pliable in his arms. comfortable. affectionate, even, as she locks her fingers together against the small of his back. ] The boxes lasted longer than I'd expected.

[uprightness]

Well, if there were two of them, others will show up. It's just a matter of timing.

[ ... ]

and some talent for pinball, apparently.

[mucked]

[ a pause. then, in a tone that's difficult to adequately pin down: ] Did you know the Captain gets free plays on the ship pinball game? Not a credit spent.

[uprightness]

Didn't have a clue.

[ he pauses, too, and a smile makes its way and colors his tone. ]

See? no reason not to practice, then. Never know when it might come handy.

[mucked]

I haven't clocked much time behind the machine. [ why should she? peggy always seems busy with other things. ] Perhaps I ought to leave the pinballing up to you. You've always had a good handle on...angles. Ricochets.

[uprightness]

Says the one who nearly beat me at space-billiards.

[ and besides! ]

It gets kinda boring after a while, you know. Could use the company.

[mucked]

Oh really? So I can stand there and look pretty and ornamental while you rack up the points? [ she teases, but truthfully she likely would keep him company. ] There'd damn well better be tea at the end of it.

[uprightness]

We could have a competition instead.

[ an easy shrug. ]

That way you wouldn't get bored.